The agri-food sector is one of the most important in Andalusia (it accounts for 12.5% of the regional economy), a weight that is also noticeable in the regional elections, as speeches aimed at people in the countryside are gaining more weight than in previous elections.
Furthermore, the Andalusian region produces almost 80% of Spain's olive oil, around 50% of fresh vegetables, and 30% of fruit, making it the most important agri-food region in the country and the European Union, so it is interesting to look at the electoral proposals of the different political parties for such a powerful agri-food sector whose situation can affect the shopping basket (the drought a couple of years ago led society to constantly focus on the price of olive oil).
A continuist agriculture in the PP
The electoral program of the Popular Party in Andalusia maintains the path set by Juan Manuel Moreno in the last legislature, in which the Ministry of Agriculture has been led first by Carmen Crespo from Almería (today MEP) and later by Ramón Fernández-Pacheco. The electoral program dedicates a special chapter to the agri-food sector, which they highlight as one of the most important for the community.
The proposals put forward by the Andalusian PP propose continuing with the first Strategy for the Andalusian Olive Sector, with the Strategy for extensive livestock farming, the Statute of Rural and Maritime Women, or promoting the new regional brand “Gusto del Sur” and developing the Law for the Promotion and Development of Organic Production.
As novelties, perhaps the most outstanding is the objective of promoting the strategic recognition of the farmer and rancher as a pillar of food sovereignty and designing a Strategy for the Andalusian Agri-food Industry.
Likewise, following the line of reasoning of VOX, the PP's electoral program states that they will promote the slowing down of the European Green Deal objectives and will lower disproportionate environmental requirements, while highlighting "Fair trade and with the same rules for everyone," in a clear allusion to trade agreements with third countries and the unfair competition posed by the import of certain agricultural productions into the European Union.
PSOE's Agrarian Proposals
Within the economy chapter, that is where the PSOE places its proposals for the agri-food sector, which are many and at times, quite specific. In this way, in addition to ensuring that they will double the budget of the Junta de Andalucía dedicated to the sector, they announce an Integral Plan for Agricultural Employment, a Strategic Plan for Organic Production, an Andalusian Strategy for Extensive Livestock Farming, a Strategic Plan for the Food Industry, the publication of a Law on Family Agriculture and Livestock Farming and another on Rural Rights, Services and the Demographic Challenge, and the creation of a Public Water Bank.
The national plans of VOX
“Total defense of the primary sector and Andalusian product against unfair competition and climate fanaticism”. This is the fifth point of VOX's electoral program for Andalusia, in which it shows the two main demands of recent months: the elimination of policies derived from the European Union's Green Deal and the rejection of the European Union's agricultural agreements with Morocco and Mercosur.
On the other hand, among their proposals they present a string of national plans such as the National Water Plan, the Irrigation Plan, or the Wolf Plan. For Andalusia, they promise to create a vineyard repopulation plan, a strategic plan for extensive livestock farming and another for intensive farming, to promote the "brave field" and create the "Office for the fight against fraud in the re-labeling and phytosanitary control of agri-food products".
Agroecology in For Andalusia
From the left of Por Andalucía, a Law of agriculture, livestock, and food sovereignty is proposed, following the Andalusian agroecological model, with one of the objectives of this norm being to delimit commercial margins in the agri-food chain.
They also consider necessary a Plan for the Social Use of Land, with the creation of a Public Land Bank, and a program for the protection and defense of sustainable and traditional crops and livestock. In its program, Por Andalucía also supports extensive livestock farming and rejects the Agreement with Mercosur and demands the implementation of mirror clauses so that imported foods comply with the same environmental, sanitary, labor, and animal welfare standards as in Europe.
Adelante Andalucía against irrigation
The creation of a Land Bank is a proposal that, in addition to Por Andalucía, is also presented by another party on the left: Adelante Andalucía. Likewise, it promotes everything that is linked to the circular economy and to companies linked to the social economy.
On the other hand, this party also makes clear its objective of curbing new irrigation and reducing its current surface area while advocating for the suspension of new reservoir construction.